Mountain Biking - Is this new part syndrome? Or do these cables make a huge difference?

I cant decide if the sudden difference in my brakes feel is new part syndrome, or if its really the cables. Before my brakes felt like crap, they felt spongy and i dont know, i didnt like it and i didnt feel like i was getting enough stopping power for the energy exerted by squeezing the lever. So i ordered myself some flak jackets a little while ago and they came in yesterday, i installed them and all and went on a 15 mile ride. What a difference!! There is MUCH less friction, they feel amazing. Especially the front, it feels like i am putting 40% less effort in my braking and getting better braking power, it feels much more "direct". I think cables make a difference :). It was always the part that i said "eh" to

I'm buying teflon coated cables to replace my current ones as I ripped it doing an endo. It was pretty awesome.

These flak jackets you speak of look classy and anything that looks classy I must look in to :D

Hmmm, I will try next cable purchase.

I dont think that the cables are teflon coated anymore. If you look at the reviews on mtbr.com early ones are not that great. BUt more recent ones are. I got mine for 20 bucks shipped on ebay, i know JensonUSA sells them for 16 per function (16 for the cable system, 16 for the shifting). They look kind of "carbony", space age like. I like em :). They included a lot more cable than i need for my V brake setup, i have probably a good 4 feet left so im thinking about completing the look and using the remaining cable for my shifting, i can find something for tubing

Mail me 4 feet. Ill use it :D

Im running DOT 4 fluid in my brakes. Cables... Psshhht :rolleyes:

I need a new brake cable for my BMX bike, it's low end junk that resists way more than the jagwire cable on my other bike. I tried lubricating it, to no avail...

I need a new brake cable for my BMX bike, it's low end junk that resists way more than the jagwire cable on my other bike. I tried lubricating it, to no avail...
Generic Teflon cable (Nervs, Alligator, etc) in bulk roll Teflon lined housing. I use this set up on my commutet and my brakes work great.

Sorry to steer this back on topic, but I don't think phantomcow2's newfound feel has anything to do with whether the cables are/are not teflon coated.

Anyone else have any htoughts on the Flak Jacket housings - the marketing says they do exactly what phantomcow2 describes....

I thought about buying these a couple of weeks ago but I'm changing a bunch of things and didn't want to add another variable.

Chris

Well you can get them for under 20 dollars now, 16 from JensonUSA. Pretty nice price. The cables themselves are not teflon coated though, i believe they used to be but are no longer. THe housing on the inside is

Well you can get them for under 20 dollars now, 16 from JensonUSA. Pretty nice price. The cables themselves are not teflon coated though, i believe they used to be but are no longer. THe housing on the inside is

YOu're not crazy man. When I got my XTR brake cables, they were much better than factory cables :)

THat is why I'm only run XTR shifting cables now too. However, I wouldn't pay the $45 CAD sticker price for the XTR kit.

Regarding your remaining cables, I see two problems. Brake cable and housing is a lot thicker than shifting cables, and how are you going to join a piece of shifting cable with the remaining V-brake cable. Also, a lot of the extra benefit is from having the nice housing anyways, so I'm not sure if I'd worry about the remaining cable. Unless they have an end on them, I would just toss them out ;)

Ming

In the interest of impartial scientific testing, the remaining 4 feet should be sent to my lab\bike to be run on my front brake.
All data recieved from exhaustive testing in the field, will be promptly reported back to you.
Until Phantomcows data has been validated by comparative testing, it is useless.

I'm waiting....

I was thinking about moving up to FlakJackets but my current cables (XTR) are still doing okay. When it comes time to replace them I'll likely give the FlakJackets a try. If anything they look nicer even if they don't perform better and they seem cheaper.

I use on my MTB stainless steel brake cable from LBS with Slick Honey on it and it moves real smooth. I do have the teflon cable on my road bike and that seems to work pretty good also. I have never tired the Flak Jacket.